Mahila Samman Savings Certificate – A Small Savings Scheme for Women

Good news for women in India! The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate has been introduced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for female investors in Budget 2023. It is a one-time small savings scheme for women with a tenure of two years. However, the official announcement and scheme details are yet to be discussed by the government.

Sitharaman said that a one-time new small savings scheme (Mahila Samman Savings Certificate) will be launched to commemorate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, and it will be made available for a period of two-year up to March 2025.

The scheme will offer a deposit facility of up to Rs. 2 Lakhs in the name of women/girls for a 2 years tenure. The interest rate offered will be fixed at 7.5 per cent per annum with a partial withdrawal option.

Additional Info: Check Personal Loan for Women's at low interest rates.

Details of the Scheme

• Limit: The maximum deposit amount is Rs. 2 Lakhs for the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate.
• Tenure: The scheme will be offered for a two-year term i.e., up to March 2025.
• Interest rate: This savings scheme will provide a 7.5% annual interest rate, with an option of partial withdrawal.
• Tax relief: It is a small-savings plan backed by the Indian government. Generally, Section 80C of the Income Tax Act offers tax benefits for small savings plans. The details about this are yet to be announced.

Additional Info: Check Best Credit Cards for Womens in India.

Documents Required to Open an Account Under the Scheme

The depositor will be required to submit the following documents to open any small savings schemes account with the Post office:

• Account opening application form
• KYC Form (required for new customers/modification in KYC details)
• PAN Card
• Aadhaar Card
• If Aadhar is not available, you can submit any of the following documents:
  • Passport
  • Driving license
  • Voter ID Card
  • Job Card issued by MNREGA signed by the State Government officer.
  • Letter issued by the National Population Register (NPR) mentioning the name and address of the applicant.

All of the above documents must be duly signed and filled in at desired Post Office.

Mahila Samman Savings Certificate Interest Rate Compared to Other Banks

Mahila Samman Savings Certificate offers an annual interest of 7.5% on a 2-year tenure, while SBI offers up to 6.80% for the same tenure. The highest interest at HDFC Bank can go up to 7.10% on 15 months to 18 months tenure, and the rate is the same with ICICI Bank for up to 2 years tenure. The highest rate is offered by PNB, i.e. 7.25% on a tenure of 666 days.

The government offers various small savings/ post office schemes. Interest rates on these savings schemes are decided every quarter by the government. These are popular schemes as they provide guaranteed fixed interest rates and are backed by the central. Some of these schemes are NSC, SCSS, PPF, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, etc.

FAQs

✅ Can savings account be used as fixed deposit?

No, a savings account cannot be used as a fixed deposit. They are two distinct types of bank accounts with different features and purposes.

• Savings Account: A savings account is a basic bank account that allows you to deposit and withdraw money for everyday transactions. It usually offers a lower interest rate compared to fixed deposits. The funds in a savings account remain liquid, meaning you can access your money whenever you need it without any penalties.
   
• Fixed Deposit (FD): An Fixed Deposit is a type of investment where you deposit a lump sum amount with a bank for a fixed period, known as the tenure. The bank pays you a higher interest rate on the FD amount compared to a savings account. However, during the tenure, you cannot withdraw the money without incurring penalties, as it is locked for a specific period.

So, while a savings account provides liquidity and convenience for regular transactions, an FD is a form of investment that offers higher returns but restricts access to the funds until the tenure expires.